Sponsor

Sponsor

2012 saw not one but two releases from prolific, Chicago-based indie-pop singer-songwriter Andrew Bird (who, it bears mentioning, is also frequent collaborator with Twin Cities musicians, such as Martin Dosh). In March, we welcomed Break It Yourself, his sixth full-length, continued to explore his clever songwriting, eclectic musicianship, and staggeringly inventive loop-based approach to playing and recording.

Earlier this fall, he released Hands of Glory, an eight-song companion album to Break It Yourself that often featured a more rustic, folksy take on his established sound and leaned heavily on covers of tunes by artists ranging from the legendary Townes van Zandt to Minneapolis' own Alpha Consumer.

Currently touring in support of Hands of Glory, Andrew Bird stopped by The Current studios before his December 17 First Ave gig to chat with Steve Seel and play a few songs.

Guests

Andrew Bird

Resources

Related Stories

Album Review: Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself When Andrew Bird's mind is allowed to roam - and his violin and looping-pedals allowed to follow wherever he might lead them - beautiful music is simply the end product, be it in the form of a finely-burnished pop song or a more wistful sonic rumination.

Theft of the Dial: Andrew Bird Right after performing an awesome set in our UBS Forum and being grilled by Steve Seel, Andrew very kindly let me guide him through the process of being a DJ.

Andrew Bird, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012 Andrew Bird's new 12th album, "Break It Yourself," is a brooding grower, not to mention a headphone record of the highest order. On the live stage, though, it's clear that Bird has become a cult superstar of the variety that attracts actual, real, live screaming fans. His music can be subtle and sweet, but Bird's concerts also bring out the fervent, electric energy of his following -- which, of course, helps coax out a showmanship that's not readily apparent in "Break It Yourself's" gentle, multilayered ballads.

Andrew Bird performs in The Current studios Finding his beginnings in The Squirrel Nut Zippers and his rock group A Bowl of Fire, Andrew Bird has grown his folk/rock loop-filled whistling songwriting style into a signature solo sound.

Andrew Bird performs in studio Having spent his early years in the Squirrel Nut Zippers and playing frontman as the Bowl of Fire, Bird is now on his own and quickly making a name for himself. He joined Mary Lucia in the Current studios to talk about those early years as well performs songs from his latest full length.

Andrew Bird: Live from SXSW Whistle once on an album and you may be doomed to be tagged as a whistler forever. Luckily for Andrew Bird, famed in the indie rock world for his whistling, might be able to pass the torch to whistlers-du-jour Peter Bjorn and John.